Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:27 | Issue:5|Papers Count:13

Background & Aims: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases in humans and the most disabling disease of young adults. The present paper aims at investigating the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on depression, quality of life, and anxiety in MS patients.Materials & Methods: The method of the study included pretest-posttest control group design.Participants of the study were all female patients with MS in the city of Sari who referred to Boali Sina Hospital. Participants were selected using the voluntary sampling method and were randomly assigned into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 8 sessions of two hour treatment. After the treatment, both groups completed Spielberger anxiety inventory, quality of life questionnaire (36SF-), and Harris-Lingoes depression scale. ANCOVA was used to analyze the collected data.Results: The results of the analysis of covariance revealed that the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was effective in decreasing depression and anxiety and improving the quality of life of patients with MS.Conclusion: With regard to the effect of the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on depression, anxiety, and the quality of life in patients with MS and the continuation of its effect, the use of such a method seems to be essential at all levels of prevention and for treatment of patients with physical and mental illnesses.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of treatment based on acceptance and commitment to increase the quality of life in patients with breast cancer.Materials & Methods: For this purpose, in a quasi-experimental study, 30 women with breast cancer in Omid Hospital, Urmia Iran were randomly selected and divided into two groups (n=15) and control (n=15). The experimental group received 8 sessions of 90-minute intervention based on acceptance and commitment, but the control group did not receive any intervention. In order to collect data, Quality of Life Questionnaire was used. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data.Results: The results showed that the treatment of quality of life ACT increased significantly in the posttest and components of ACT increased quality of life in the experimental group. The intervention however did not affect mental and environmental health of the experimental group.Conclusion: It was concluded that the group therapy based on acceptance and commitment could enhance the life quality of patients with breast cancer.

Background & Aims: Acrylonitrile is widely used as the main raw material in the production of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It can be considered as pollutant in ABS process effluent. Since the importance of biological systems to treatment the ABS effluents, this study aimed to identify the dominant microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment plant and to evaluate the potential for biodegradation of acrylonitrile.Materials & Methods: Microbial populations in the biological unit were examined during 8 runs of sampling. The culture media including PCA, R2A, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Rose Bengal were used for bacterial and fungal culturing. Biochemical tests were used to identify bacterial genus and the culturing was used for fungal identification. The potential of acrylonitrile biodegradation was assessed through the measurement of the concentration of acrylonitrile, acrylamide and acrylic acid.Results: A total of 20 bacteria isolated, 7 genera including Neisseria, Moraxella, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Shigella and Staphylococcus were identified as dominant. The fungal genera including Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, and Penicillium were also identified as dominant. From a total of 71% acrylonitrile in biological unit. Acrylic acid concentration as breakdown product of acrylonitrile in influent and effluent were 39 and 94 mg/l, respectively. However, acrylamide concentration as a byproduct was almost constant.Conclusion: Dominant bacterium and fungi are identified as Pseudomonas and Aspergillus, respectively. Among the isolated bacteria, the genera of Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Moraxella belong to heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria that have the ability to breakdown nitrogen compounds such as acrylonitrile.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of dialectic behavioral therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in anorexia nervosa disorder, using a single case design.Materials & Methods: Four consecutive chronic outpatients fulfilling DSM-5 criteria for Anorexia Nervosa disorder were treated according to core treatment manual of Behavioral Activation. Patients were assessed measuring depression, anxiety and stress scale.Results: The treatment was associated with considerable reduction in the specific measures of depression, anxiety and stress.Conclusion: The results showed effectiveness of Dialectic Behavioral Therapy Training on the level of depression, anxiety and stress in anorexia nervosa patients. Although this study was limited by the absence of a control group, these findings may be extended and generalized more for impulse therapy.The treatment appears promising, although a controlled evaluation of its effectiveness is necessary to draw a definitive conclusion.

Background & Aims: Today, increasing resistance to antibiotics causes serious problems for treatment of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the role of AdeABC efflux pump in the Benzalkonium chloride and Chlorhexidine MIC value with efflux pump inhibitors (1-1-naphthylmethyl-piperazine and phenyl-arginine-b-naphthylamide) in the A.baumanii strains isolated from intensive care unit.Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 50 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii collected from ICU wards of Gazi hospital. The species identification was performed by standard laboratory methods. Benzalkonium chloride and Chlorhexidine MIC value were performed using microdilution method according to the clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The activity of the efflux pump was evaluated using the efflux pump inhibitors.Conclusions: The AdeABC efflux pump may play a role in decreasing Benzalkonium chloride and Chlorhexidine MIC value in A. baumannii isolates.

Background & Aims: Along with methods of assisted reproductive techniques frozen embryos transfer methods are growing, although fresh embryo transfer course has always been the case of focus. Due to the fact that few studies have compared the two methods in the field of embryo transfer, the aim of this study was to compare the outcomes in fertility between these two transfer techniques.Materials & Methods: This semi clinical trial study included 215 patients, who received conventional ICSI treatment in Kosar infertility center of Motahari University Hospital, Urmia Iran, 2011-2013.Totally, 152 patients received fresh embryo and 63 patients received frozen ones.Results: Biochemical and clinical pregnancy rate were higher in frozen vs. fresh embryo transfer (57.1% vs.40.3%; P=0.016). Clinical pregnancy rate was higher in fresh vs. frozen embryo transfer (50.8% vs.34.9%; P=0.003). The incidence of abortion rate before appearance of fetus heart (6 weeks) was similar in both groups (P=0.993) and the incidence rate of abortion before 20 weeks was higher in fresh vs.frozen embryo transfer (19 % vs.17.1 %; P=0.0.144). Rate of twine, triple, multiple pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy were not statistically significant between two groups.Conclusion: Frozen vs. fresh embryo transfer increases chemical and clinical pregnancy outcomes and decreases rate of abortion before 20 weeks.

Background & Aims: Salmonellosis is one of the vital infectious zoonotic diseases in both human and animals that is related with poultry, meat, egg and milk consumption. The aim of this study was evaluation of genetic diversity of Salmonellaenterica serovar enteritidis isolated from human and animals samples by ERIC-PCR method.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 Salmonellaenterica serovar enteritidis were obtained from the human and animals. Detection of strains were performed by standard microbiological and biochemical tests and slid agglutination assay were done for serotyping of the strains by mono and polyvalent antisera. Then, ERIC-PCR was achieved for determination of molecular correlation of the strains by specific oligonucleotides primers.Results: The results showed that, all 60 S. enterica using ERIC 1 and ERIC were type II. And 2-11 bands with 20-3200 bp were obtained. Therefore, 15 different clusters (C1-C15) were attained and that highest number (13.3%, 8 strains) with like pattern were in cluster 5 (C5).Conclusion: The results showed that Salmonellaenterica serovar enteritidis strains are non-homolog.So, ERIC-PCR method is an appropriate method for molecular typing of Salmonella strains and infection spread source determination used for epidemiologic survey and infection prevention pathway.

Background & Aims: Ghrelin is appetite hormone that has several functions. In recent years the role of ghrelin in bone mass density has been noticed by some investigators. According to the importance of bone mass density in elderly age and importance of physical activity in improving bone mass, this study aimed to investigate the amount of ghrelin and bone mass density and their relationship in athletes and non-athletes.Materials & Methods: Thirty male athletes and thirty non-athletes who were 50-70 years old took part in this research. Bone mass density of femur and lumbar vertebras were measured by DXA and ghrelin was analyzed by ELISA method. The data were analyzed through independent t-test and Pearson correlation.Results: The result of this study showed that femur and lumbar bone mass density and their T-score were significantly higher in athlete group (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between ghrelin and femur and lumbar bone mass density.Conclusion: Ghrelin may be associated with bone turnover, but there is no evidence for an association with BMD in athletes and non-athletes in men 50-70 years old.

Background & Aims: Due to lack of intervention studies in the introduction of new, integrated and trauma focused therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder in Iran, this research was conducted to study the efficacy of holographic reprocessing therapy on arousal and intrusion symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.Materials & Methods: This single-case experimental study used A-B plan with different subjects that were conducted during 9 sessions on three patients with one month follow-up. The data were analyzed with visuals inspection, improvement percentage and reliable change index (RCI) strategies. Instruments used in this research included the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I disorders and the impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).Results: The findings showed that the holographic reprocessing therapy reduced the severity of arousal and intrusion symptoms in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and follow-up period of therapy indicating the consistency of therapy.Conclusion: This therapy with providing reprocessing facilitates a change in clients’ perceptions of a traumatic event, themselves, and others. It is through this perceptual shift they are able to gain new insight. This kind of therapy created significant changes in symptoms of all three patients and therapeutic achievements were maintained over follow-up.

Background & Aims: Poor air quality regarding harmful consequences as one of the most important environmental problems have challenged many metropolises. Since exposure to these pollutants can affect human health, this study aimed to investigate the health effects of SO2 and PM10 attributable to the air pollution on the health of the Urmia citizens in 2013 using software AirQ.Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, after validating the hourly concentration of SO2 and PM10 according to the standards of WHO, required primary and secondary processing, the health effects and related mortality rates were estimated by the standard software of AirQ2.2.3 based on the pollutant concentration and the exposure of people.Results: Annual average concentration of SO2 and PM10 were respectively 89 and 83μg/m3 in Urmia in 2013. These results were 4.45 and 1.7 times of WHO guidelines. The cumulative number of attributed mortality to SO2 and PM10 were estimated 121 and 158 cases. The number of hospital admissions due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reported 25 cases and the number of hospital admissions due to acute myocardial infarction was 46 cases.Conclusion: Regarding the health effects attributed to SO2 and PM10 pollutants in the air of Urmia, It is essential to focus on air pollution control more than before.